Support for incandescent lights



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

O. A. OARMANY. SUPPORT FOR INGANDESGENT LIGHTS.

No. 544,502. Patented Aug. 13, 1895;

v (No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 2.

, G. A. CARMANY.

SUPPORT FOR INGANDESGBNT LIGHTS.

No. 544,502. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

UNITED (STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS OARMANY, OF MIDDLETOW N, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPORT FOR INCANDESCENT LIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,502, dated August13, 1895. Application filed September 8, 1894. Serial No. 522,454. (Nomodel.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES AUGUSTUS OARMANY, a citizenof the UnitedStates, residing at Middletown, in the county of Dauphin and State ofPennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inSupports for Incandescent Lights; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to supports for incandescent electric lights;and it has for its object, among others, to provide a simple andinexpensive support whereby an incandescent electric light may besuspended from a ceiling in any desired position, the adjustment of thelight being effected by simply sired position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description,when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings; and, with the various objects in view, my invention consistsin the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, ashereinafter fully described. Y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device complete. Figs. 2and 3 are opposite side elevations, Fig. 2 showing in dotted lines thepawl 41, engaging the notch in the hub of the drum. Fig. 4 is averticalsectional view. Fig. 5 is a face view of the intermeshingrevolving pinion and internallytoothed gear. Fig. 6 is an opposite viewthereof. Figs. 7 and 8 are opposite face views of the rotating drum uponwhich the electric wires or tapes are adapted to wind. Fig. 9 is a faceview of the colle't or ring to which one end of the mainoperating-spring is secured. Fig. 10 is a plan'view of the block bywhich the devices are supported from the ceiling. Fig. 11 is a bottomview thereof.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable block or support 1,which is constructed of porcelain, lava, or other non-conductingmaterial, and which is adapted to be secured to a ceilinghy screws 2orotherwise. Said block is recessed'at opposite sides to receivemetallic plates 3, to which the leadingin wires of the lamp are adapedto be secured by binding-screws 4, and said plates carry de pendingscrews 5, which are connected by wires 6 with bindingscrews 7, carriedby spring-plates 8, screwed by screws 9 to the upper face of the block.The plates 8 carry at their inner free ends contact points or pins 10,which project through the block for apurpose presently explained. Theupper face of the block is recessed, as at 11, also for a purposepresently apparent.

12 12 indicate suitable standards or supporting-pieces,which are ofannular shape and provided with rectangular slots 13, through which areadapted to pass projections 14 on clamping-plates 15, which are providedwith slots 16, through which securing-screws 17 pass into the block 1.It will be seen that when the plates 15 are adjusted inwardly to causetheir projections 14 to enter the slots of the standards the latter willbe firmly held in position, and. by loosening the screws 17 and movingthe plates 15 outwardly the projections will free the slots and permitthe standards tobe removed from the block. The supports 12 12' areprovided with a series of cars 19, perforated to receive theclampingbolts 20, presently more fully described. The supports 12 12'are centrally perforated, as at 21, and 22 indicates a shaft,one end ofwhich is loosely mounted in the perforation of support 12, while itsopposite end is squared, as at 23, and is fitted in a square opening 24in a collar or bushing 25, which is rotatably mounted in the perforationof the support 12'.

26 indicates a collet or ring which is pro- Thus, by rotating theIninished. By fitting a key into the socket of the collar the shaft maybe readily turned in either direction, as required. Against the ring 26is adapted to be fitted a paper, wooden, or other insulating-disk3l,which is provided with perforated cars 32, corresponding in positionwith the cars 19, and through which pass the bolts 29. The disk 31 isprovided with a central opening 33*, through which the shaft 22 freelypasses.

Secured at one end upon the inside of the collet or ring 26-is aleaf-spring 33, whose opposite end bears upon the outermost convolutionof the spring 30, and said bearing-end of the spring 33 is broadened andprojects through an opening 34 in the disk 31 and engages with one armof a lever or pawl 35, which is pivoted upon one of the bolts 20. Theopposite end or arm of the pawl lies clear of the path of a pin or lug36, carried by the winding and unwinding drum 37, which is rotatablymounted upon the shaft. the position of the pawl when the parts are intheir normal operative positions; but in case the spring should break,then the stress of the same would force the spring 33 toward the innerface of the ring, and this would cause the free end or arm of the pawlto be thrown into the path of the pin or lug 36, and thus prevent therapid rotation of the drum 37 and consequent descent of the lamp.

The drum 37 is provided with the two outer flanges 38, of metal, and thehub 39, of nonconducting material, said hub being provided in itscircumference with a recess or notch 40, into which is adapted to takeone end of a pawl 41, of non-conducting material, secured at itsopposite end upon a metallic sleeve 42, pivoted upon one of thesecuring-bolts 20. I would state that the engagement of the pawl withthe notch or recess occurs only when the conducting-wires for the lamphave been nearly unwound from the hub, (such engagement being shown inFig. 2,) the object in view being to prevent the continued rotation ofthe drum when the said wires are pulled upon and thus prevent breakageor detach- -ment of said wires from the binding-screws.

For securing the conducting-wires to the flanges of the drum I recessthe hub, as at 43, and also slot the flanges'and loosely insert thereincontact-sleeves 44, which lie within the recesses in the hub, andagainst which sleeves the ends of the conducting-wires are adapted to beclamped by binding-screws 45, which work within the said heads.

46 are spring-arms, secured to the flanges and bearing against theprojecting ends of the sleeves 44 to hold the same firmly in place. Bypressing the arms 46 outwardly to clear the head of sleeves 44, thelatter can be removed and the conducting-wires conveniently and securelyfastened in place. The hub of the drum 37 is integral with or hassecured to it a gear-wheel 48, which is adapted to mesh with a pinion49, rotatably mounted This is upon a stud50, carried by a disk 51,loosely mounted upon the collar 25. Said pinion 49 meshes with aninternally-toothed wheel or disk 52, which is provided with pins 53,which are adapted to snugly fit within sockets 54 in the support 12,thus holding the disk or wheel 52 incapable of rotation at all times.

In orderto increase the tension of the spring when necessary withoutdisturbing the drum or lamp, I secure a ratchet-wheel 55 upon the collar25, with which ratchet engages a suitable pawl 56, secured on one faceof disk 51 and projecting-through a slot 57 therein, and held inengagement with the teeth of the ratchet by a spring 58, secured to theopposite face of the disk 51. It will be seen that by fitting a key intothe squared socket 24 of the collar 25 the shaft 22 may be turned toeffect the winding up of the spring, and at the same time the revolutionof the collar 25 causes a rotation of the ratchet-wheel 55, the teeth ofwhich, however, will ride beneath the pawl during such rotation. Thenthe winding is discontinued, the pawl and ratchet again engage,transmitting the increased tension through the disk 51, pinion 49,andpinion 48 to the drum.

The drum when mounted on the shaft makes contact with the lugs or pins10 through the medium of its flanges 38, and inasmuch as said pins arecarried by spring-arms, the contact is maintained atall times during theoperation of the device.

The stress of the main spring should be such that the same will aboutcounterbalance the weight of the lamp and maintain the same in anydesired position to which'it may be adjusted,and so that at the sametime said lamp may be either drawn down by gently pulling downwardlyupon the same or raised by simply pushing upwardly on thelamp. If it befound that the stress of the spring, be not sufficient to accomplish thedescribed results, the shaft may be turned to increase the stress of thespring to the desired extent.

The conducting-wires, which serve to suspend the usual lamp 59 from thedevice and at the same time conduct the current to the incandescentfilament thereof, may be the usual wires employed for this purposesuitablyinsulated, though I prefer to employ conducting-wiresconstructed in the form of a flat tape 60, insulated and having a widthto adapt it to wind snugly between the flanges of the drum.

In the operation of the device, when the lamp is drawn downwardly thedrum 37 will be rotated, and, by reason of the gear-wheel 48 meshingwith the pinion 49, the'latter will be caused to revolve within the disk52 and at same time effect the rotation of the disk 51 and the collar25, whereby the shaft 22 will also be rotated and effect the winding ofthe spring. When the lamp is to be raised in its position, the same willbe assisted in its upward movement by the stress of the previously- 1.In a device of the character described, the

combination with a block, of supports carried thereby and having slotstherein, clamping plates having slots, securing screws passing throughsaid slots and into the block, and projections on said plates adapted toenter said slots in the supports, a shaft mounted on said supports, anda drum rotatably mounted on said shaft as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a block,of supports carried thereby, spring arms carried by the block, contactpins or lugs carried by the said arms and projecting through the block,a shaft mounted on the supports and a drum rotatably mounted on theshaft and in 'contact with said pins or studs, as and for the purposespecified. p

3. In a deviceof the character described, the combination with a block,supports carried thereby, a shaft mounted on said supports, a drumrotatably mounted on the shaft and having a hub provided with a notch orrecess, a pivoted pawl adapted to engage with said recess, andconducting wires secured to flanges on the drum and upon which wiressaid pawl is adapted to bear until the said wires have been unwound fromthe hub, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a block,supports carried thereby, a disk secured to one of said supports, aconvolute spring secured at one end to said disk, a shaft to which theopposite end of the spring is secured, a drum rotatably mounted upon theshaft, a leaf spring secured at one end to the disk and bearing at itsopposite end upon the convolute spring, a pivoted pawl or lever engagedby said leaf spring, and adapted to be tilted thereby as described, anda drum rotatably mounted upon the shaft and having a pin lying normallyout of contact with the said lever and adapted to be struck by thelatter when tilted as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a block,of supports carried thereby, a shaft, a collar loosely mounted upon saidshaft, a disk loosely mounted on said collar, an internally toothed gearwheel secured to one of the supports, a drum rotatably mounted upon theshaft, a pinion carried thereby, an intermediate gear wheel looselycarried by the said disk and meshing with the said pinion and internalgear wheel, and a spring operating upon the parts, for the purposespecified.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a block,of supports carried thereby, a shaft, a collar loosely mounted upon saidshaft, a disk loosely mounted on said collar, an internally toothed gearwheel secured to one of the supports, a drum rotatably mounted upon theshaft, a pinion carried thereby, an intermediate gear wheel looselycarried by the said disk, and meshing with the said pinion, and internalgear wheel, a spring operating upon said parts as described, a ratchetWheel on the collar, and a pawl carried by the disk and engaging saidratchet, as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a block,of supports carried thereby, a shaft rotatably mounted. at one end inone ofsaid supports, a collar at the opposite end of the shaft rotatablycarried by the other support, said collar having a square opening intowhich a squared end on the shaft fits,'a disk secured to one of thesupports, a convolute spring secured at one end to said disk and at theopposite end to the shaft, an internally toothed gear wheel secured tothe other support, a disk rotatably mounted on said collar, a drumrotatably mounted on the shaft, a pinion carried by said drum, anintermediate gear wheel loosely carried by the said disk and meshingwith the said pinion and internal gear wheel, a ratchet Wheel on thecollar, and a pawl pivoted to the disk carrying the intermediate gearwheel and engaging said ratchet.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES AUGUSTUS CARMANY.

. Witnesses: E. M. RAYMOND, S. L. YETTER.

